[airmate]

I own a new LA-2A and a pair of new LA-3A's alongside older UA/Urei stuff like a vintage Blackface 1176 and an 1178. Furthermore I have tried out virtually all other pieces of them and I have even visited their shop in Santa Cruz.

They are not far apart from your usual "boutique" manufacturer - just a bit larger. No Reason to slag them off at all...

I really like their gear. It's well built, reliable, and it does what I expect it to do.
Still my old 1176 has something special to it that no other that recently manufactured 1176(-clone) I have heard can offer.

But to be fair, this certain smoothness and softness probably comes from the old electrolytics. So it is probably somewhat far off from the original specs.